[The construction of a new ship for the marine service on the middle and lower North Shore is proceeding in Croatia. The Bella Desgagnés, the jewel of the Group Desgagnés fleet, will be launched in the presence of a number of elected officials from the North Shore. The ship will replace the Nordik Express and be twice as large.]

The $80-million price tag, and the ship's expected entry into service in April 2011, give clues as to how quickly the Quebec government expects to push the 138 through from Natashquan to Old Fort. (Hint: not very quickly at all.)

[A boat won't be empty, the Newfies will have their merchandise subsidized by transporting it from Quebec to Blanc Sablon, then their material will quietly be transferred to their island, a good way to have Quebec pay for their business, a little bit of revenge for the Churchill.]